Update: LRCCD releases statement on the investigation of former Los Rios police officer

Former officer Noah Winchester on a ride-along in November of 2014. Former LRPD officer Noah Winchester on a ride-along in November of 2014. Winchester currently awaits trial for five counts of rape and remains in custody on $3.1 million bail, according to prosecutors. (File photo)

Spokesman for the Los Rios Community College District Mitchel Benson released a statement this morning on the investigation of former Los Rios police officer Noah Winchester.

Noah Winchester served with the Los Rios Police Department from January 1, 2009, to January 16, 2015. Los Rios Police Chief Cheryl Sears said that neither she nor anyone in her department has been contacted by the San Mateo Police Department, the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office or anyone else regarding the allegations in the news reports about former Officer Winchester. Los Rios Police will cooperate fully with any agency’s investigation if and when the Department is contacted.

San Mateo Police Department Police Chief Susan Manheimer said in a statement that the police department has been working with the San Mateo District Attorney’s Office since Oct. 2015 and contacted the DA “within hours” after the first allegation.

“Although the DA’s criminal investigation is not yet completed, we as an organization recognize that the thought of someone committing criminal acts while wearing an SMPD uniform is deeply troubling and repulsive to this department and its members,” Manheimer said.

A former Los Rios Police Department officer who was most recently with the San Mateo Police Department is under investigation for allegedly assaulting two women during his time as an officer for the LRPD, according to an ABC7 report.

Noah Winchester has allegedly sexually assaulted, while on duty, up to five women between the two departments he formerly worked for.

The San Mateo District Attorney began the investigation last fall after initial accusers came forward claiming to have been sexually assaulted by Winchester during his time as an officer for the LRPD, according to ABC7.

“We are conducting an investigation into Mr. Winchester and conduct that he engaged in while an officer,” San Mateo District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe told ABC7. “It’s misconduct while on duty in a manner in which he dealt with women.”

Wagstaffe said that he hopes to complete the investigation within a month or two, according to the San Francisco Examiner.

San Mateo Police Chief Susan Manheimer said that she is horrified at the nature of these criminal allegations and that the department took full, decisive and swift action.

Winchester resigned in February shortly after the investigation had begun, according to the San Francisco Examiner.

American River College public information officer Scott Crow could not be reached for comment.

Los Rios Police Department Captain John McPeek referred the Current to Los Rios Police Chief Cheryl Sears who has not returned multiple calls.

This officer gave me a reckless driving ticked back in 2014 in Sacramento. With our brief interaction, I could tell instantly, he thought he was a super cop. He roughed me up, threw me up on my own car, my head hit the roof hard, and handcuffed me. He probably raped and harassed a bunch of students at Los Rio’s Cl.